NSW road authority targets grain sector

Annual operation looks to enforce vehicle mass limits during the peak harvest season

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has announced it will enforce vehicle mass limits across New South Wales during the peak harvest season, targeting heavy vehicle operators and grain receivers.

The operation, dubbed Harvest Moon, will run until December 31 to ensure compliance with the state's Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS).

"Operation Harvest Moon is targeting non-compliant heavy vehicles operating over-mass to ensure the safe movement and delivery of grain during the peak harvest season as part of a rolling mobile enforcement operation throughout NSW," roads and maritime director of safety and compliance Peter Wells says.

"Roads and Maritime inspectors will be carrying out road patrols on all major routes, visiting receiver sites and checking inbound vehicles to ensure appropriate compliance, with penalties to apply for any breaches," he says.

According to the RMS, the penalties for any individual involved in a chain of responsibility that breaches mass, load restraint and dimension regulations is a fine over $10,000, while companies face fines over at $50,000.

To avoid compliance issues, the RMS says grain receivers should contact them to take part in the GHMS, which allows participating trucking operators and silos to exceed mass limits.